A new report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) suggests blood-sucking ‘kissing bugs’ have carried a dangerous parasite across 32 U.S. states. The report suggests as many as 300,000 people in the U.S. may unknowingly be infected with Chagas, the parasitic disease that the bugs can transmit.

The report suggests classifying Chagas disease as endemic in the United States due to its prevalence. Currently, Chagas is listed as endemic in 21 countries, excluding the U.S.

Experts hope re-labeling the disease will bring more awareness, preventative measures, wider testing, and reporting protocols because if Chagas is not treated promptly, it can lie dormant in the body for decades, eventually manifesting as a heart attack or stroke.

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